Beaumont airport hopes to attract airline with route to Florida

Published 1:00 am, Sunday, March 6, 2011

Many regional travelers drive to Houston airports to avoid the higher prices of Continental who remains the only provider of commercial air travel. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Many regional travelers drive to Houston airports to avoid the higher prices of Continental who remains the only provider of commercial air travel. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Photo: Beaumont

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Jack Brooks Regional Airport officials sent a representative to Austin this weekend to try and convince Vision Airlines to begin operating at the Brooks airport. Vision flies to Houston and 22 other American cities located largely in the south. An airport groundsperson waits for the evening flight to finish taxiing on Tuesday. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Jack Brooks Regional Airport officials sent a representative to Austin this weekend to try and convince Vision Airlines to begin operating at the Brooks airport. Vision flies to Houston and 22 other American

Jack Brooks Regional Airport officials sent a representative to Austin this weekend to try and convince Vision Airlines to begin operating at the Brooks airport. Vision flies to Houston and 22 other American cities located largely in the south. Passengers exit a Continental plane on Tuesday. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Jack Brooks Regional Airport officials sent a representative to Austin this weekend to try and convince Vision Airlines to begin operating at the Brooks airport. Vision flies to Houston and 22 other American ... more

Photo: Beaumont

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A Continental flight takes off at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport on Tuesday. Airport officials say about 95 percent of the region's air travelers do not fly from the Brooks airport. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

A Continental flight takes off at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport on Tuesday. Airport officials say about 95 percent of the region's air travelers do not fly from the Brooks airport. Guiseppe Barranco/The ... more

Photo: Beaumont

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Jefferson County Airport in 1949 with an Eastern Airlines plane preparing to take off. Enterprise file photo

Jefferson County Airport in 1949 with an Eastern Airlines plane preparing to take off. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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Passengers head to an Eastern Airplines flight at Jefferson County Airport in the early 1950s. Enterprise file photo

Passengers head to an Eastern Airplines flight at Jefferson County Airport in the early 1950s. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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The day the terminal at the Jefferson County Airport collapsed in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

The day the terminal at the Jefferson County Airport collapsed in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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The day the terminal at the Jefferson County Airport collapsed in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

The day the terminal at the Jefferson County Airport collapsed in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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The day the terminal at the Jefferson County Airport collapsed in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

The day the terminal at the Jefferson County Airport collapsed in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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The air traffic control tower was heavily damaged when the Jefferson County Airport was slammed by a strong strom in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

The air traffic control tower was heavily damaged when the Jefferson County Airport was slammed by a strong strom in May, 1983. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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The 5 o'clock Delta flight lands at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. Delta flights were a common sight at the aurport in the early 2000s. Enterprise file photo

The 5 o'clock Delta flight lands at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. Delta flights were a common sight at the aurport in the early 2000s. Enterprise file photo

Photo: File

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On May, 13, 2005 Delta announced Friday that would suspend service from the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. Enterprise file photo

On May, 13, 2005 Delta announced Friday that would suspend service from the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. Enterprise file photo

Photo: Beaumont

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Jefferson County Commissioners voted to change the airport's name to the Jack Brooks Regional Airport in 2010. Enterprise file photo

Jefferson County Commissioners voted to change the airport's name to the Jack Brooks Regional Airport in 2010. Enterprise file photo

Photo: Beaumont

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Beaumont airport hopes to attract airline with route to Florida

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Jack Brooks Regional Airport manager Hal Ross will attend Network USA - a conference that gives airline executives and airport personnel a chance to mingle - this week in Austin. He'll meet with Vision Airlines, a Georgia-based airline that now provides service in 23 cities, mostly in the Southeast.

That airline generally flies a few days a week from an airport to a Florida resort, he said.

Whether Ross' spiel will have any impact on an airline executive's decision to start a route in Jefferson County remains to be seen. Most involved have hope.

The Southeast Texas airport presents its own variation of the classic chicken-and-egg question.

People say they would use it if fares were cheaper, if more destinations were offered and if flights didn't get canceled unexpectedly.

To accomplish those goals, one or more airlines would have to see a sustained jump in passenger totals.

To get the increase in passenger totals, fares need to be cheaper, more destinations need to be offered and flights should take off as promised.

It's so many ifs, it could make your head spin.

In the meantime, a significant number of potential passengers are pointing their cars, trucks or SUVs toward Lake Charles, La., or Houston, resulting in what county airport manager Hal Ross referred to as "95 percent leakage" from the passenger base.